Screen structure



Feb. 2s, 192& I v 1,661,003

W. W. MILLER SCREEN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 9. 1927 INETOR W Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES liATEN'I. OFFICE.

WALLACE w. MILLER, oF srEUBENvI LE, onmnssmnon 170 THE 01:10 FOUNDRY ANI) MANUFACTURING 00,01 STEUBENVILLE, onro, A CORPORATION 01' euro. l

SCREEN s'racc'ruan.

'Applicatimffilcd February 9, 1927. Serial No.167,001.

My invention relates to screen structures, such as fire screens of the folding type, that are employed in front of fire places or open front gas stoves, although the invention is also applicable to various other types of folding or paneled structures.

Heretofore, in the case of screens composed of panels, it has beencustomary to join said panels by pivots of various forms so that they can be swung relatively to one another to permit folding thereof or to extend the same across the front of a fire place. The pivotal connections have been of various forms and in some cases a long rod, ex,- tending from the top edge to the lower edge of the screen has been employed as part of the connecting means for two panels. In these older structures, there is oftentimes excessive friction or resistance to pivotal movement of the screen panels, and the pivot members may become bent or sprung, so that the panels are not freely operable.

In thecase of screens having metal frames or borders for the body of the panel, it has been customary to weld or solder the frame members at the corners of the panels, with consequent discoloration of the metal at the points of weld. This discoloration is objectionable, particularly in those types of screens, wherein the natural color of the metal employed is relied upon to present a decorative effect.

One object of my invention is to provide a screen structure wherein the pivotal connecting members are of such form as to have rolling movement upon one another, to thereby reduce the friction, and wherein the long connecting rods may be dispensed with.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of fastening for the frame members at the corners of the screen panels. 1

Still another objectof my invention is to simplify and improve generally the strucg view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 2, and showing the metal that, for the major portion of its length, is bent to channel or tubular'form, asshown in Fig. 6. The vertical walls of the frame members 7 are bent backwardly at their ends to form inclined flanges 9, as indicated iuFigs. 4 and 5.. The frame memhere 8 are of substantially the same form as the members 7 being provided with flanges 10, so that the adjacent ends of the members 7 and 8 have abutting relation and present the appearance of a m-i'tered joint.

The wire screen is held in place in the frame members by clamping action of the edges of the inturned sides of the panels. (See Fig. 6). j

The adjacent ends of the frame members 7 and 8 are firmly bound together by clips 11, each of which has flanges that extend behind flanges 9 and 10, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 and which may he slid into position in the manner shown in Fig. 5, through openings in the corners of the frame members 7 and 8.

A stud 12 is secured within the panel of each frame member 8, at the upper and lower ends thereof, by means of screws 13, the studs projecting through the openings at the ends of such panels. A gear wheel 1A is secured to each of the studs 12, by means of a nut 14 that acts, through a bushing 15, to clamp the gear wheel against 13 will roll upon the gear Wheels of the the holding clips 11 are concealed within the frames and that a smooth joint is presented on the faces of the frames.

I claim as my invention p l. A screen structure comprising a pair of panels, a toothed stud carried by each panel, the teeth of one stud meshing with the teeth of the other stud, and a connecting plate for maintaining the teeth of said studs in cooperative relation, the said plateextending across and having a flange disposed circumi'erentially of said teeth.

2. A screen structure comprising a'panel having longitudinally and vertically disposed frame members that are mitered at adjacent ends and provided with inwardly turned flanges, and a clip having oppositely disposed flange portions for engaging said flanges to hold the iirame members in assembledrelation, the outer corners or" the said ends being cut away to permit insertion of,

the clip.

3. A screen structure compiusmg a panel having longitudinally and vertically distion, and a stud-like flange member secured within the vertically disposed frame member and protruding through said cut-out portion 1 e. A screen structure comprising a panel having longitudinally and vertically disposed trame members that are mitered at adjacent ends and provided with inwardly turned flanges and cut away at their outer corners, a clip having oppositely disposed lowey ends of each panehtoothed members carried by said studs, a flange plate fitting over each pair oi inter-engaging toothed members so as to conceal oneof the si deffaces and peripheries thereof, and meansi 'or holding said plates in operative l6l%ltlO1l,tl18 said plates serving also as connecting links for the panels.

In testimony whereof I, the said WALLAFE Y N. MILLER, have hereunto set my hand.

WALLACE W. MILLER. 

